While the world collectively asks “when will my phone get Gingerbread?” Samsung and Vodafone UK have crossed off the Galaxy S from the list of Android phones waiting for an upgrade. Vodafone UK announced today that Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) is now available for download through the Samsung KIES application.

Vodafone UK Galaxy S owners will have to download KIES for Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (Mac support currently not available). Once applied, the update will add some UI changes that are “simpler and slicker,” the new Gingerbread keyboard, better battery life, better management of the front and rear-facing camera, and the ability to use only a 2G connection.

The update from Froyo to Gingerbread is an incremental move, but any improvement – no matter how minor – is a welcome change. I noticed that my battery greatly improved when my EVO went from Android 2.2 to 2.3 via CyanogenMod, and I’ve seen several Nexus One owners say the same once their phone was updated to Gingerbread. Samsung has already released Gingerbread for a few other carriers in Europe, so let’s hope we can take off more names of anxious Android owners.

2 Comments

How about "“when will my phone get Froyo?!?!" I have the Verizon Fascinate which still doesn't have Froyo. Samsung, how about you update all your devices to the current update before working on the next?!